Chester Football Club's involvement in local football leagues can be traced back as far as the 1894/95 season when Chester joined the Wirral District Amateur Football League as Chester Reserves. This is Chester's first recorded reserve campaign and during that season controversy prevailed with Birkenhead based side L.N.W. Locomotive brought a charge against the conduct of the spectators at Chester.
subsequently the seals brough a counter charge against the linesman provided by Loco! Both charges were eventually dropped but a long running dispute began during the following season when Chester refused to pay the sum of £1 18s to Tranmere Rovers Reserves for expenses claimed by Rovers after Chester failed to turn up for a game there. Only when the club was was threatened with suspension, did Chester pay up.
When the club returned to the competition in 1912 the league was known as The West Cheshire A.F.L. Whilst the club was recognised as "Chester" in the League's official records they were referred to in the local press as Chester Reserves. Little of note occured during this two year spell although they were once excused after fielding a team of less then eleven players.
Their four season period in the League from 1923 as Chester 'A' brought Chester's only tangible success. Having defeated Hoylake United in the semi-final of the League knockout competition. The Pyke Cup, in 25/26, they then lost out in the final, played at Ellesmere Port to Runcorn. However twelve months later they were crowned as league champions and promptly resigned!
Chester then made a successful application to re-join the league in June 1937 only to withdraw a month later. Next came a single season spent with us in 1938-39.
Chester 'A' then spent season's 1952-53 - 1963-64 and 1968-69 - 1970-71 under the West Cheshire banner. During these years Chester competed in other reserve leagues, such as the Cheshire County League and Northern Floodlit League. Understandably the West Cheshire leagues were used by the club to field youth players and trialists.
With thanks to the secretary of the West Cheshire Amateur Football League for his assistance with this article.
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